Magnetic cooling: a molecular perspective.

The magnetocaloriceffect is considered as an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly technique which can take cooling technology to the next level. Apart from its commercial application at room temperature, magnetic refrigeration is an up-and-coming solution for the cryogenic regime, especially as an alternative to He3 systems. Molecular magnets reveal advantageous features for ultra-low cooling which are competitive with intermetallic and lanthanide alloys. Here, we present a guide to the current status of magnetocaloric effect research of molecular magnets with a theoretical background focused on the inverse magnetocaloric effect and an overview of recent results and developments, including the rotating magnetocaloric effect.

Magnetic structure, excitations and short-range order in honeycomb Na2Ni2TeO6.

Na2Ni2TeO6has a layered hexagonal structure with a honeycomb lattice constituted by Ni2+and a chiral charge distribution of Na+that resides between the Ni layers. In the present work, the antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition temperature of Na2Ni2TeO6is confirmed atTN≈ 27 K, and further, it is found to be robust up to 8 T magnetic field and 1.2 GPa external pressure; and, without any frequency-dependence. Slight deviations from nominal Na-content (up to 5%) does not seem to influence the magnetic transition temperature,TN. Isothermal magnetization curves remain almost linear up to 13 T. Our analysis of neutron diffraction data shows that the magnetic structure of Na2Ni2TeO6is faithfully described by a model consisting of two phases described by the commensurate wave vectorsk→c,0.500and0.500.5, with an additional short-range order component incorporated in to the latter phase. Consequently, a zig-zag long-range ordered magnetic phase of Ni2+results in the compound, mixed with a short-range ordered phase, which is supported by our specific heat data. Theoretical computations based on density functional theory predict predominantly in-plane magnetic exchange interactions that conform to aJ1-J2-J3model with a strongJ3term. The computationally predicted parameters lead to a reliable estimate forTNand the experimentally observed zig-zag magnetic structure. A spin wave excitation in Na2Ni2TeO6atE≈ 5 meV atT= 5 K is mapped out through inelastic neutron scattering experiments, which is reproduced by linear spin wave theory calculations using theJvalues from our computations. Our specific heat data and inelastic neutron scattering data strongly indicate the presence of short-range spin correlations, atT>TN, stemming from incipient AFM clusters.

Magnetic, Structural and Spectroscopic Properties of Iron(II)-Octacyanoniobate(IV) Crystalline Film Obtained by Ion-Exchange Synthesis.

Over recent years, investigations of coordination polymer thin films have been initiated due to their unique properties, which are expected to be strongly enhanced in the thin film form. In this work, a crystalline [FeII(H2O)2]2[NbIV(CN)8]∙4H2O (1) film on a transparent Nafion membrane was obtained, for the first time, via ion-exchange synthesis. The proper film formation and its composition was confirmed with the use of energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy, as well as in situ Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. The obtained film were also characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and magnetic measurements. The [FeII(H2O)2]2[NbIV(CN)8]∙4H2O film shows a sharp phase transition to a long-range magnetically ordered state at Tc = 40 K. The 1 film is a soft ferromagnet with the coercive field Hc = 1.2 kOe. Compared to the bulk counterpart, a decrease in critical temperature and a significant increase in the coercive field were observed in the films indicating a distinct size effect. The decrease in Tc could also have been related to the possible partial oxidation of FeII ions to FeIII, which could be efficient, due to the large surface of the thin film sample.

Dinuclear molecular magnets with unblocked magnetic connectivity: magnetocaloric effect.

A detailed study of the magnetocaloric effect in two isostructural bimetallic compounds {[MII(H2O)2]2[NbIV(CN)8]·4H2O} n (M = Mn, Fe) is presented. The substances show sharp phase transitions to the long-range magnetically ordered state with ferromagnetic coupling between M and Nb sublattices in the case of the Fe-based sample (FeNb, T c = 43 K) and antiferromagnetic coupling for the Mn-based sample (MnNb, T c = 50 K). The magnetic entropy change was found to reach 5.07 J mol-1 K-1 (9.09 J kg-1 K-1) for MnNb and 4.82 J mol-1 K-1 (8.65 J kg-1 K-1) for FeNb under the applied magnetic field change of 5 T. Isothermal entropy changes corresponding to different field changes are demonstrated to collapse on a single master curve, which confirms the magnetic transitions in FeNb and MnNb to be of the second order. The results obtained for FeNb and MnNb are discussed in the context of MCE tunability by un/blocking of magnetic connectivity through dis/reconnection of spatially extended ligands.

A Family of Octahedral Magnetic Molecules Based on [NbIV(CN)8]4.

A building block approach has been used to prepare a new family of hexanuclear magnetic molecules Mn4Nb2, Fe4Nb2, and Co4Nb2 of general formula {[MII(tmphen)2]4[NbIV(CN)8]2}·solv (M = Mn, Fe, Co; tmphen = 3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline; solv = MeOH and/or H2O). Mn4Nb2 exhibits a magnetocaloric effect at temperatures close to 1.8 K, and Fe4Nb2 undergoes an incomplete gradual spin crossover and a photomagnetic response related to light-induced excited spin state trapping.

How can [Mo(IV)(CN)6](2-), an apparently octahedral (d)(2) complex, be diamagnetic? Insights from quantum chemical calculations and magnetic susceptibility measurements.

Quantum chemical calculations are employed to elucidate the origin of a puzzling diamagnetism for a hexacyanomolybdate(IV) anion, [Mo(CN)6](2-), which was previously reported by Szklarzewicz et al. [Inorg. Chem., 2007, 46, 9531-9533]. The diamagnetism is surprising because for the octahedral (d)(2) complex one would rather expect a (paramagnetic) triplet ground state, clearly favored over a (diamagnetic) singlet state by an exchange interaction between two d electrons in the t2g orbitals. Nevertheless, the present calculations reveal that the minimum energy structure of isolated [Mo(CN)6](2-) is not an octahedron, but a trigonal prism; the latter geometry allows maximization of a σ-donation from the cyanides to the electron-deficient Mo(iv) center. Unlike for the octahedron, for the trigonal prism structure the singlet and triplet spin states are close in energy to within a few kcal mol(-1). Although the actual relative energy of the two spin states turns out to be method-dependent, the complete active space calculations (CASPT2; with the appropriate choice of the IPEA shift parameter) can reproduce the singlet ground state, in agreement with the experimentally observed diamagnetism. Moreover, magnetic measurements reveal a slight increase of the magnetic susceptibility with the increase of temperature from 100 to 300 K, suggesting an admixture of a thermally induced paramagnetism (possibly due to Boltzmann population of the low-energy triplet state) on top of the dominant diamagnetism. Our prediction that the geometry of [Mo(CN)6](2-) should significantly deviate from the ideal octahedron, not only in the gas phase, but also in a periodic DFT model of the crystalline phase, as well as the experimentally confirmed diamagnetic properties, does not agree with the previously reported ideal octahedral structure. We suggest that this crystal structure might have been determined incorrectly (e.g., due to overlooked merohedral twinning or superstructure properties) and it should be re-investigated.

Magnetocaloric effect and critical behaviour in Mn2-pyridazine-[Nb(CN)8] molecular compound under press.

A comprehensive study of magnetocaloric effect (MCE) and critical behaviour in the ferrimagnetic Mn2­pyridazine­[Nb(CN)8] molecular magnet under hydrostatic pressure is reported. The pressure-induced structural changes provoke the strengthening of magnetic interaction between Mn and Nb centres. Consequently, an increase of critical temperature Tc is observed from 43 K for a sample at ambient pressure (A) to 52.5 K for a sample under a pressure of 1.19 GPa (AHP). The magnetocaloric effect was determined by the magnetization measurements. The application of a hydrostatic pressure of 1.19 GPa causes a decrease in the maximum value of magnetic entropy change ΔS, which for AHP is equal to 4.63 J mol−1 K−1 (7.73 J kg−1 K−1) at µ0ΔH = 5 T, while for A it is 5.36 J mol−1 K−1 (8.95 J kg−1 K−1) for the same magnetic field change. The temperature-dependent parameter n obtained for AHP, describing the field dependence of MCE, is consistent with other critical exponents determined from magnetization measurements. The critical exponents allow us to classify AHP to the 3D Heisenberg universality class, similar to the case of the non-pressurized sample.

Magnetocaloric effect in M-pyrazole-[Nb(CN)(8)] (M = Ni, Mn) molecular compounds.

We report a study of magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in cyanido-bridged {[M(II)(pyrazole)(4)](2)[Nb(IV)(CN)(8)]·4H(2)O}(n) molecular compounds where M = Ni, Mn, pyrazole = C(3)H(4)N(2). The substances show a sharp phase transition to a long range magnetically ordered state, with ferromagnetic coupling between M and Nb sublattices in the case of the Ni-based sample 1 (T(c) = 13.4 K) and ferrimagnetic coupling for the Mn-based sample 2 (T(c) = 23.8 K). The magnetic entropy change ΔS due to applied field change ΔH as a function of temperature was determined by the magnetization and heat capacity measurements. The maximum value of ΔS at µ(0)ΔH = 5 T is 6.1 J mol(-1) K(-1) (5.9 J kg(-1) K(-1)) for 1 at T = 14 K and 6.7 J mol(-1) K(-1) (6.5 J kg(-1) K(-1)) for 2 at T = 25 K. MCE data at different applied fields have been presented as one universal curve, which confirms magnetic transitions in 1 and 2 to be of second order. The temperature dependences of the n exponent characterizing the dependence of ΔS on ΔH have been obtained. The n(T(c)) values, consistent with the shape of the magnetization curves, pointed to the 3D Heisenberg behaviour for 2 and some anisotropy, probably of the XY type, for 1. The (H/T(c))(2/3) dependence of the maximum entropy change has been tested in the ferrimagnetic Mn(2)-L-[Nb(CN)(8)] (L = C(3)H(4)N(2), C(4)H(4)N(2)) series.

The role of carboxylate ligands in two novel cyanido-bridged 2D coordination networks Cu(II)-W(V) and Mn(II)-Nb(IV).

We report on the synthesis, molecular structure and magnetic properties of two novel coordination polymers: [{Cu(II)(4)(pic)(2)(H(2)O)(2)(MeOH)}{W(V)(CN)(8)}(2)]·MeOH·4H(2)O (1) and [{Mn(II)(3)(HCOO)(2)(H(2)O)(4)}{Mn(II)(H(2)O)(3)(HCONH(2))}(2){Nb(IV)(CN)(8)}(2)]·4HCONH(2)·2H(2)O (2). The single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of 1 shows that its molecular structure can be interpreted as a cyanido bridged (3,4,7)-connected 2D bilayer built of two different subnets sharing the tungsten centers. The magnetic measurements suggest that the system reveals long-range ferromagnetic ordering between Cu(II) and W(V) centers below 13.4 K. The molecular structure of (2) reveals a 2D topology of layers built of cyanido and formato bridging ligands. The system reveals ferrimagnetic behavior with a critical temperature at 17.8 K.